Apple moves to prevent iPhone jailbreaking with updated Bootrom file

Aharon Etengoff, 14th October 2009

Apple has released an updated Bootrom file in an effort to prevent iPhone jailbreaking. The file - known as iBoot-359.3.2 - effectively disables a popular software exploit known as "24kPwn."

Although iBoot-359.3.2 was reportedly loaded onto all recently shipped 3GS iPhones, it is undoubtedly only a matter of time before hackers code a new exploit to bypass the updated Bootrom file.

Unsurprisingly, Club Cupertino has adopted a rather hardline position against jailbreaking. As TG Daily previously reported, Apple recently told the US Copyright Office that jailbreaking "constitutes copyright infringement" and violates the iPhone licensing agreement. The company also claimed that the licensee is not the "owner" of his or her iPhone software and that modifying the OS could "cause serious problems in the operation" of the device.

In addition, Apple insisted that the practice may lead to "interference" with safety functions, APIs and system calls which could cause applications to crash and prevent the proper execution of updates.

"Once an iPhone is jailbroken, it is much easier to hack the BBP software by making modifications to it. Hackers may be able to change the ECID, which in turn can enable phone calls to be made anonymously (this would be desirable to drug dealers, for example) or charges for the calls to be avoided," Apple explained in an official statement. "More pernicious forms of activity may also be enabled...A local or international hacker could potentially initiate commands (such as a denial of service attack) that could crash the tower software, rendering the tower entirely inoperable to process calls or transmit data."See Also